Another Win For The Ages

By Lorne Rubenstein Created: April 14, 2019

Lorne Rubenstein

Lorne Rubenstein

GOLF JOURNAL

Getty Images

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 14: Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates after sinking his putt to win during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

That’s what Tiger Woods said Sunday when defending Masters champion Patrick Reed placed the Green Jacket on him moments after his momentous win that was years in the making and four days in the sculpting. Woods was steely as he made his way forward to winning his fifth Masters on Sunday and 15th major.

He used the word “plodding” to describe his methodical march to victory. Woods cared only about leading at the end. Others led earlier, surged, and fell back. Woods stood firm, hitting shots in all the right places. No way he would go for the pin on the par-3 12th hole, which was in its customary position to the extreme right of the green behind the bunker. He played safely, well to the left, and two-putted for par.

Francesco Molinari, with whom he was playing in the final threesome, rinsed his tee shot there. Tony Finau in the group as well, and contending, did the same. Woods wasn’t going to come close to doing that. He hit the ball into the greens where it needed to go. He had said after the third round that he didn’t need to go for every pin. He’s been around the block a few times at Augusta National, and elsewhere. Everywhere in the game.

“Every shot he played, he played a smart shot,” six-time Masters champion and 14-time major champion Jack Nicklaus told Golf Channel from the Bahamas, where he was fishing. He came in to watch how the Masters unfolded.

Nicklaus wasn’t ever a Tiger doubter. He knew Woods would remember how to win a major if he got there again down the stretch, just as he had when he was 46 and won his sixth Masters in 1986. It was all about whether Woods would get healthy again after his many injuries and back surgeries.

A big “well done” from me to @TigerWoods! I am so happy for him and for the game of golf. This is just fantastic!!! 👏🏼@TheMasters

There never was any doubting Tiger’s greatness and his supremacy is only amplified now. He’s all about preparing for and reaching a peak in the four majors. He points to them because he knows they define careers. So what if he hadn’t won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open? It’s amazing to realize he had won the 14 majors before this Masters by the time he was 32, and before his personal issues became exposed for all the world to see and before he had to decide the only chance of saving his career was to have a spinal fusion.

I’m writing a hot take here, I suppose. It’s moments after Woods, now 43, took a two-shot lead to the final green, and wisely accepted his bogey five after his second from the right side of the fairway came up short, mud on the ball, Woods would say. He pitched up behind the hole, maybe 15 feet away, caught the right lip softly and holed out for his winning bogey after Molinari and Finau had finished.

As I’m writing I keep seeing moments while I was working with Tiger on his book about his 1997 Masters win, which he took by 12 shots — his first Masters as a professional and his first major as a professional. We had met earlier at The Woods Jupiter, his restaurant in Jupiter, Fla., for an interview that was published in TIME as he approached his 40th birthday. He had to stretch and walk around during our two-and-a-half-hour interview. His back was clearly bothering him.

It was the same during the lengthy sessions we had in his suite of offices while I interviewed him for the book. We watched video of his ’97 Masters win. He leaned back. He stretched. Sitting there hurt. But he wanted to describe in detail the shots he hit, what he was thinking about. He wanted to get back there, to Augusta National and the Masters. Would he? Could he?

He did, emphatically. This was another win for the ages, 22 years after ’96 Masters winner Nick Faldo placed the Green Jacket over his shoulders. So much has happened since then. Only Woods and his family and close friends know how much has happened, and how deep it’s all cut.

The cuts have healed. The man’s will won the day, and the years. How about those hugs behind the 18th green with family and friends, especially his kids Charlie and Sam and his mom Tida?

Earlier this week I texted one of Woods’s close associates. “I’d love to see Patrick Reed slip the Green Jacket on Tiger Sunday evening,” I wrote.

“That would be amazing,” he replied.

It would be. It is. Beautiful, just beautiful. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll head around the corner to Woods’s restaurant. Where better to enjoy a drink in celebration of his historic victory?

Lorne Rubenstein

GOLF JOURNAL

The thoughts and opinions of SCOREGolf Magazine’s longtime back page columnist and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer.

ALLAN RAKOWSKY
April 15, 2019 at 9:46 am

Lorne has written an excellent review of Tiger’s stamina and precision. Lorne knows Tiger well and could truly appreciate the hard and consistent effort that went into the greatest comeback in sports history.